"Machines were, it may be said, the weapon employed by the capitalists to quell the revolt of specialized labor"

Karl Marx's quote is referring to the commercial transformation and the intro of devices into the office. Throughout this duration, machines were used to replace manual labor, which permitted capitalists to decrease the cost of production and increase their profits. This had a destructive impact on the working class, as it triggered a decrease in salaries and an increase in unemployment. The intro of machines also triggered a revolt among specialized labor, as they felt their skills were being decreased the value of and their incomes threatened. Marx's quote is a commentary on the power of the capitalist class and their capability to utilize devices to reduce the working class. He is highlighting the unfairness of the scenario and the need for the working class to fight back versus the capitalists.